How to Win a "Most Minnesotan" Sweater Contest

On Friday, January 28, we are hosting an After Hours unlike any other After Hours. (It’s indoor AND outdoor…in January!) In celebration of the new exhibition of The Spectacular of Vernacular, our theme is, well, vernacular, and specifically, Minnesota vernacular. So along with hot dish appetizers, an ice bar, and a hot cocoa station, we’re encouraging you all to get your Minnesotan garb on and take a picture at the Party People photo booth (back in the Bazinet Lobby this time). It will be added to our Flickr pool of Party People collection and the next day, we’ll pick the “Most Minnesotan” for a grand prize! (Prize TBD)

Here are some guidelines I just made up that should help you win that great big TBD prize. Here we go:

How to Win a “Most Minnesotan” Sweater Contest

1) Classic Norwegian

You might be able to find these beauties at Ingebretsen’s Gift Shop or Iverson’s Scandinavian Imports in St. Louis Park. They are high quality and very warm (which is why my mom loves them, she says) and there’s nothing like the sight of a church hall full of proud Scandinavians wearing these sweaters and eating lots of Scandinavian food.

2) Woodland Creature

Any homage to any species of Minnesota fauna is very welcome, be it common birdseed stealing pests or majestic creatures of the North Woods.

Obviously, your best Norwegian sweater is a good place to start, but if you want to show how much you love Swedish meatballs, lefse, or lutefisk, you will have to go the extra mile. This sweatshirt is available from the Uffda Shop in Red Wing AND online!

4) Paul Bunyan

Well, I’m sure several people will come dressed like Paul Bunyan, but I challenge you to find a sweater that depicts him. Like this one. (Maybe? I always pictured Paul Bunyan to have less billowy pants and a darker beard and less like a jolly Scottish man on his day off. I also didn’t know Babe had spots like a cow, but I’m still pretty sure this is a helpful image for you.)

5) Fishing & Hunting

I’m getting really tired of doing Google image searches, but you know there’s a lot of these out there. Sweatshirts, t-shirts, sweaters, you name it. I’m a really big fan of this pheasant sweater, because I have never known a man to love pheasant more than my Minnesotan grandpa.

Something to Note: Remember that fashion is not just about the clothes on your back, but your state of mind while wearing said clothes. For example, while this fine young man clearly understands guidelines 1 and 2 (Classic Norwegian and Woodland Creature), I am not sure how he would react if you dropped him off in the middle of a frozen lake or put a plate of lutefisk in front of him.